Thermostatic liquid flow control device



Peienieei Menzaieiio l i 2,194,771 t UNITE stares vTsui? ortica THERMS'EA'C LIQUID FLGW CONTROL y DEVICE i Charles F. Semen and Albert L. Semen,

` East Orange, N. J.

V Applieetieh Mai-eh 25?1937, seriai No. 132,928' 5 claims. (c1. zet- 93) This invention relates to thermostatic liquid Figure 3 is a sectional View, on an enlarged flow controlling devices for regulating the flow scale, taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2,showing of liquid and particularly adapted to control the the connection between the casing chamber and flow of liquid used inthe cooling system of an outlet port, and the connection between the'valve g, apparatus, such as refrigerators, and it is an ob- Chamber lld inlet Port n ject of the invention to provide a thermostatic Figure 4 is e seCliiOrlal View, on anerlllfrgell` liquid ov/ control device which is of novel conscale, taken on the line 4-4 Of Figure l, SliOWiIlg struction to permit replacement or cleaning of the connection between the casing and valvel the working partsv without disconnecting the de- Cllfimbels` 1U vice from the apparatus to which itis connected.` Figure 5 is VieW 0f a pair` of thermostatic 10.:

It is another object of the invention to provide ilsks-V i i a thermostatic element, of novel construction Figure 6 is an elevational VieW 0f an element which will eliminate all noise during the operaforming the SlOW fiOW Passage fOr the liquid from tion of the device. the inlet port to the casing chamber.

It is a further object of the invention to pro- Figure 'I is a View looking at the 13011 0f Figure 6 15'* vide a device of this character which is adapted te shew mere fully the 310W OW passage; and to be connected to an supply of liquid of various Figure 8 is a fragmentary View, on an enlarged temperatures. t scale, of the manner in which the peripheries of In carrying out the invention there is provided the disks are iXed irl spelled relaliiIl i90 `eill a casing having a chamber arranged with an iheri i i inlet port connected to the coolingsystem of an The .embodiment 0f the inVeniOn illustrated in apparatus and a source oi liquid supply and an the aeemparlying drawing comprises @Casing 9 outlet port connected to a waste conduit. The having all er1 end 130111011 thereof a pair 0f lJQSsES inlet port is connected to the casing chamber to l, Il integral With 'and eXteIldiIlg laterally from provide a slow now `of liquid to the chamber and opposite Side portions 0f the Gesine and internally 25 the outlet port is in fully open Comunication screw threaded for releasable connection `in a with the casing chamber. The full flow of the liuidv Carryingpipe (not shown). `The end P01 l liquid through the casing chamber from the inlet f tion 0f the easing opposite the end arranged with port to the outlet porti is controlled by a valve the bosses is arranged with a at disk portion I2 .mounted in a valvechamber opening to the casextending in a plane transverse to the longitudi- 301, ing chamber and the inlet'port. The valve is innal axis of theicasing 9 and having a flange I3 terposed between `the valve chamber and inlet extending perpendicularly from the peripheral port and is yieldingly positioned `to close said portion thereof with the inner yface of said ange ommnnlcetlon between the valve chamber and screw threaded forthe reieesabie mounting of a i inlet port, and 1s actuated toopen position to i Cap member 54,35 at l5 in Figures 3 and ci,and 85 perimt the full 50W 0f the llclllld through the said cap member having a shoulderl integral Casing Chamber and to the Waste Conduit by a with and extending laterally from the exterior thermostatic element mounted in the casing Side thereof to. abut the end` of i-,heiflange13v Chamber to be agected by the temperature of me with a washer interposed between the 'flange and llqwd 1n the @enne @bamber- The. thermostail Shoulder to provide e, liquid iight joint, as: et l1. 40 element. comprises 2 pair of b'metauic thermo' When the cap meinberiis mounted on the disk atllodslisgs ralfs flesfvshdnsgsu portion i2 o2 the casing 9, therevis formed a cirand quantity of the u .d cular chamber IB of greater diameter than depth,

qui of dish shape fixed at the peripheries thereof with the convex suras clearly Shown m Flgures 3 and 4' The casing S isadapted to` be mounted on a f h aces of t e dlsks of each pau of dlsks m Op suitable support (not shown) to relieve the weight posed spaced relation to each other. The pair of disks is connected to the valve and adapted to 0I the 035mg from the Water Carrymg pme Whlh may cause leakage at the connections of the be adjustably positioned relative to said valve n lconnection from the exterior ofthe casing. bosses mi H With Sad P1136 by alrangmg the 50 In the drawing accompanying and forming a Casing With a Pair 0f integral ears I9 Carried by part of this'application, Figure 1 is an elevational the @rising belOW lille disk POrl'liOIl l2 by alrib 2li view of the device. g (Figure 2) with the ears extending from op- Figure 2 is an elevational view looking at the posite sides of the casing and arranged `with y i rright of Figure 1. e openings 2l in said extended portions for the 55 engagement of screws to secure the casing to the support. Y

The casing il has a bore 22 extending on the longitudinal axis thereof from the end `portion arranged with the bosses i0, Il to the disk portion with the` end portion of the bore adjacent and intermediate the bosses Ill, I I arranged as a circular valve chamber 23 open at the end of the casing 9 and screw threaded at said open end portion for the removable engagement of a closure plug 2t, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The portion of the casing 9 around the open end of the valve chamber 23 is at to be engaged by a flat surface of the plugto form a liquid tight seal, as at 25.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the boss IB is connected to the portion of the liquid carrying pipe which delivers liquid to the casing 9 from the cooling system of an apparatus and the boss IQ is in fully open communication with the bore 22 through a passage 26, as shown in Figure 3, the boss Ill and said passage constituting the inlet port of the casing. The boss II is connected to the portion of the liquid carrying pipe leading td a place of disposal for the liquid and is in fully open communication with the casing chamber I8 through a passage 21 leading from the inner end of said boss II through the casing 9 to a circular recess concentric of the bore 22 in the face of the disk portion I2, as at 23 in Figure 3, the boss II and passage 21 constituting the outlet port of the casing. The valve chamber 23 is in fully open communication with the casing chamber I8 through a passage 29 extendingY from the inner end portion of the chamber at one side of the bore 22 through the rib 2Il and opening in the face of the disk portion I2 intermediate the ilange I3 and the recess 23, as shown in Figure 4.

To permit a slow now of liquid from the boss I0 to the casing chamber I8 through the passage 26 and bore 22 for a purpose to be hereinafter described, the end of the bore opening to the casing chamber I8 is restricted by a headed bushing 3l) screw threaded in said end of the bore 22 with the head abutting the bottom wall of the recess 28 and the bore of the bushing being tapered from the head end to the opposite end, as at 3I in Figures 6 and '1, and the larger end of the bore leading'to a transverse slot 32 in the head of the bushing, which slot will facilitate the distribution of the liquid in the casing chamberv and the engagement and removal of the bushing by a screw-driver. The liquid delivered to the lcasing'charnber I8 by the slow ow of liquid through the bushing is continuously discharged from said chamber through the passage 21 and boss II. The depth of the recess 28 and the thickness of the head of the bushing 3D is approximately the same so that the top of the head will be flush with the face of the disk portion I2.

The full flow of liquid from the boss I may be delivered to the chamber I8 through the bore 22, valve chamber 23and passage 29. It is the principal purpose of this device to control this full flow of liquid through the casing chamber I8 and this purpose is accomplished by a valve comprising a body portion 33 having a recess at one end carrying packing material, as at Bti, and a reduced portion 35 at the opposite end extending into a recess 36 in the closure plug 24. vThe valve is slidably mounted to have movement on the longitudinal axis of the bore 22 by stem portions 31, 33 extending from the opposite ends of Athe valve, the portion 31 being shorter than portion 38 and adapted to slidably engage in a bore in the closure plug extending centrally from the bottom wall of the recess 36, as at 39, and the longer stem 3B extending through the bore 22 and the bore 3I of the bushing 3D into the chamber I8, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The diameter of the stem portion 38 is slightly less than the smallest diameter of the bore 3l of the bushing 3U to permit the slow flow of liquid from the boss Ill to the casing chamber I8. The stem portions 3l, 38 may be integral with the valve portions 33, 35, as shown, or they may be formed by a rod passed through and fixed to the valve, as by sweating, with the opposite ends of the rod extending from the opposite ends of the valve the required distances to form the portions 31 and 38. The packing material 34 is adapted to engage a seat in the form of a bushing having a laterally extending shoulder 40 adjacent one end and the longer end of the bushing extending from the shoulder being screw threaded to removably mount the bushing in the end portion of the bore 22 adjacent the valve chamber 23, as at 4I, with the shoulder Ml abutting the Wall of the chamber 23 encircling the bore 22. The shorter portion of the bushing extending from the shoulder lll forms the valve seat, as at 42. The valve is yieldingly urged in a direction toward the bore 22 to normally engage the packing material 34 with the seat 42, as shown in Figure 3, by a spring d3 mounted in the recess 35 of the closure plug 24 with one end abutting the bottom of the recess 33 and the opposite end portion encircling the reduced portion 35 and abutting the body portion 33 of the valve.

The full flow of the liquid is prevented from passing through the casing by the normal position of the valve, as shown in Figure 3, until the liquid in the cooling system connected to the boss IG and in the casing chamber I8 reaches a predetermined temperature when the valve is actuated against the force of the spring 43 to the open position shown in Figure 4 by a thermostatic element mounted in the casing chamber I8 and which is responsive to variations in the temperature of the liquid in said chamber. The thermostatic element forming the principal embodiment of this invention is designed to positively actuate the valve to open position without the noise which is prevalent in thermostatic elements now in commercial use. In the present embodiment of the invention the thermostatic element comprises two pairs of disks M, 45 of dish or curved shape in cross section with the curvature extending concentrically of the disks and having straight edge portions diametrically opposite from each other, as shown at 46 in Figure 5, to eliminate the snapping of the disks and permit a greater movement of the disks under low temperature and circulation of liquid in the chamber I8. Each of the disks 44, 45 is composed of two juxtaposed metallic disks having different co-eicients of expansion and united together as by fusing or otherwise, as shown in Figure 8, and the convex faces of each disk 44, 45 having a different metal than the concave face of said disk. The disks 44', 45 of each pair of disks are xed at the arcuate peripheries thereof in an annular member lI1 with the convex faces of the disks 44, 45 facing each other. Each of the annular members 41 is arranged with an internal shoulder at one end against which shoulder the peripheral portion of the concave face of the disks M rest, as at 4B. The peripheral portions of the convex faces of the disks 44, 45 are maintained ln the casing chamber I8 has dropped'to a predeter spaced relation by an annular spacer 49 forced within the annular member 41 against y the peripheral portion of the convex face of the disk d4, and the disks d5 being secured in the annular members di against the annular spacers di) by an annular retaining member 5i! forcedwithin the annular members @il against the peripheral portion of the concave face of the disks t5, as shown in Figure 8. The peripheral portions of the disks M, 45 are spaced apart a distance by the spacers q d@ to position the center portions of the disks M, 45 in spaced relation to each other, as shown in Figure 3. The disks 44, 45 are mounted in the annular members M with the straight edge portions i in alinement with each other. f

The pair of thermostatic elements lid, 45, lil are mounted centrally in the casing `chamber I8 and supported bythe valve stem portion 38 by a carrier comprising` a head portion 5E having a recess in the center of one end thereof adapted to be engaged by the free end of the stem portion t, as at 52, and a shank portion 53 integral with and projecting from the opposite end of the head to slidably engage an elongated recess .5l-l' in the end of an abutment member 55 screw threaded in a perforation centrallyci the cap member Ill, as at 56. The disks Qd, lili are arranged with perforations 5l to engage each pair of disks on the shank portion 53 with the disk 45 of one pair of disks resting on the head 5i and the disk it of the other pair of'disks resting on a spacing collar 55 engaged on the shank portion 53 and resting on the disk dd of the rst named pair of disks, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The abutment member 55 may be adjusted in a direction into and out of the chamber I8 to vary the position of the center portions of the disks M, d5 of each pair of disks relative to each other and position the valve 33 from the valve seat 42 to permit a greater flow of liquid through the casing chamber I8 in the normal position of the valve. The abutment member 55 is retained in adjusted position by a locking sleeve nut 59 x slidably engaged on the abutment member and screw threaded in a boss (itl integral with and projecting from the top of the cap member M centrally around the opening 56 therein with a ring of packing material engaged in said bossr 60 to be engaged by the locking nut 53 and be im# pinged about the abutment member 55 to prevent leakage of liquid through the opening 58, as at Si. In the operation of the device hereinbefore described the parts thereof will normally be in the position shown in Figure 3 withthe valve 33 closing the full flow of liquid from the inlet port l0, 25 to the outlet port l i, 2l' through the casing chamber I3 while a slow ow of liquid is maintained from the inlet port m25 to the casing chamber i8 where a small quantity of liquid will come into contactwith the thermostatic` disks d4, d5. When theliquid in the cooling system which is connected to the inlet port Ii), 26 rises in temperature due to the fact that the full. ow of the liquid is not passing through said cooling system, a small quantity of said liquid having 1 mined degree which depends on the adjustment of the abutment 55, the disks 44, 45 will assume their normal position which will position ythe valve 33 in engagement with the seat 42, as shown in Figure 3.

It should beunderstood that the number of pairs of thermostatic disks M', 45 may varydepending on the pressure andquantity of the ow of the liquid, the type o thermostatic metal used, and the strength of the spring 43. If there should be only onepair of disks 44, d5 used, the collar 58 would not be used.

'Y It will readily be seen that the wearing parts of the device may be quickly replaced. The valve 33'is replaced by removing the closure plug 24, and the thermostatic disks 4d, d5 are removed by disengaging the cap member M' from the disk portion I2` ofthe casing 9. The disks M, d5 may be individually replaced by the removal of the annular members 50 and 49 without the necessity of replacing the entire thermostatic unit (i4, d5, di.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

i. In a liquid iiow controlling device, a casing having a pairoi bosses adapted to connect the casing in a pipe line, a chamber in the casing nesting one of the bosses with the casing chamber, a second passage connecting the other boss i with the bore intermediate the valve seat and restricted opening, a third passage connecting the valve chamber to the casing chamber, a valve mounted in the valve chamber to engage the valve seat and having a portion extending through the bore and restricted opening into the casing chamber and having a cross sectional area slightly smaller than the diameter of the restricted open-' ing, a bimetallic thermostatic element mounted in the casing chamber and connected to the eX- `tending portion of the valve, and means to yieldingly position the valve in engagement with the valve seat to close communication between the boss connected to the bore and the casing cha ber and permit `actuation oi the valve to open position by the bi-metallic thermostatic element when the temperature of the liquid in the casing chamber rises above a predetermined degree.

, 2,. In a liquid flow controlling device, a casing having a chamber with inlet and outlet ports and a valve chamber, the outlet port being in direct communication with the casing chamber, the inlet port having a restricted opening to the casing chamber to permit a limited quantity of liquid to enter said chamber, and the valve chamber opening to the inlet port and the casing chamber, a Valve mounted in the valve chamber to control the communication between the inlet port and casing chamber through the valve chamber, a spring to urge the valve to close said communi cation between the inlet port and casing chamber, a member having a recess in one end adjustably mounted in thev casing with the recessed end extending into the casing chamber, a carrier slidably mounted in the recess of the adjustable member and operatively connected to the valve, and a pair of disks of bi-metallic thermostatic material interposed at the center portion thereof between the carrier and the recessed end of the adjustable member to effect actuation of the valve against the force of the spring to open position when the temperature of the liquid in the casing chamber rises above a predetermined temperature by the disks moving in a direction L from each other and actuating the carrier from the adjustable member.

3. In a liquid flow controlling device, a casing having a chamber with inlet and outlet ports and a Valve chamber interposed between one of the ports and the casing chamber, a valve mounted in the valve chamber to control the connection of the valve chamber with said port and the passage of liquid through the casing and arranged with a portion extending into the casing chamber, a spring to urge the valve to closing position and the extending portion thereof into the casing chamber, and thermostatic means supported in the casing chamber by the Valve extending portion and comprising an annular member and a pair of bi-metallic thermostatic disks of dish shape in cross section having the peripheral portions 'lxed in the annular member with the convex surfaces of the disks in opposed relation to each other to position the center portions in closer relation than the peripheral portions and the center portions of the disks being adapted to be loosely supported by the valve xtending portion to impart movement of the disks to the Valve against the force of the spring, said .z movement being effected by the movement of the loosely supported center portions of the disks caused by a rise in the temperature of the liquid in the casing chamber, and each disk being arranged With parallel straight edge portions spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the annular member to eliminate the snapping of the disks and permit a greater movement of the disks by a low temperature.

4. In a liquid now controlling device, a casing having a chamber with inlet and outlet ports and a valve chamber in axial alinement with the casing chamber opening to one of the ports and the casing chamber, a valve mounted in the valve chamber to control the connection Of the valve chamber with said port and having a portion extending into the casing chamber, an abutment member having a recess in one end and adjustably mounted in a wall of the casing chamber in alinement with the valve portion extending into said chamber With the recessed end positioned in the casing chamber, a carrier comprising a shank portion slidably mounted in the recess of the abutment member and a head at the free end of the shank portion connected to the valve porf tion extending into the casing chamber, and

pairs of dish shaped disks of bri-metallic thermostatic material engaged on the carrier shank, the disks of each pair of disks being juxtaposed with the convex surfaces in opposed relation, and one pair of disks being supported by the head of the carrier and each succeeding pair of disks being separated from the preceding pair of disks with the end pair of disks engaged by the abutment member.

5. A liquid ow controlling device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pairs o-f disks are separated from each other by collars engaged on the shank of the carrier and interposed between the pairs of disks.

CHARLES F. SEMON. ALBERT L. SEMON. 

